My daughter had a flight (Alitalia) from France to Italy Sunday, March 20, and it was cancelled after a 3 hour wait. The trains were all full and they had to rent an automobile. I looked online at a USA airport and there were NO flights from Alitalia Airlines. Are they on strike? Does anyone know?

Hello joycethd, from what I read on the International Herald Tribune on Thursday (I think) one of the smaller unions are hellbent on taking on Alitalia and were quoted saying they will hold constant strikes even if it means the collapse of Alitalia.

It didn't sound good. I have not read anything more.

IMHO Alitalia is a real "iffy" airline at this time and I personally would not book a flight with them.

I am sorry your daughter had this problem. Sure glad she was able to get a rental car.

oh my goodness!! I just bought tickets with Alitalia last week. We're traveling in April to Italy - at least I hope so. cnathan

to cnathan: If they go on strike and you're on a flight from the US, they will find you a flight on another airline. Otherwise if you charged it on American Express, you haven't lost anything. Another reason to always purchase flight insurance that covers this problem.

Hi cnathan, don't panic! Fortunatly in Italy strikes do not last for days or weeks as here in the U.S.

I did not post the info I read originally because I was afraid it would give some travellers heart palpatations so to speak.

Evidently the smallest of the Alitalia unions is the one making a problem. The other major unions are not. I would think that the other unions will "make the small union an offer they cannot refuse" as if the small union acts up to the point that Alitalia will be out of business all the empoylees will be out of work.

I haven't been to their website, but you might want to do that.

And I will post when I see any further information.

In the meantime you just keep planning and dreaming about your wonderful trip.

Here are two Web sites that you can keep an eye on:

www.airwise.com
(for airlines only)

http://www.whatsoninrome.com/strikes.php
(for strikes in Rome and national transportation strikes)

Monday (March 21st) the train employees are going on strike in Italy. They wanted to strike for 24 hours but the Italian government talked them into striking from "only" 8:00am to 5:00pm.

This is in regard to the safety issues because of the train wreck north of Bologna some weeks ago.

Far traveling trains will not be effected. Not sure if that means like trains from say Rome to Venice or what.

Alitalia will no doubt have strikes in the future. Strikes seem to be hitting Italy here and there.

In the past the strikes have lasted about 8 hours each but of course that means a build up of passengers so it does take time to get everything back to normal.